Opinion: PS Vita's big room experiences at odds with portable play's new wave

Stuart Herrington | 00:07 - 11 February 2013

Try Frobisher Says. It's free. Speaking of which, if you have PlayStation + you get vita games for free. Although there aren't many big games available yet, the store has quite a lot, not to mention tons PlayStation one games and PSP. There is content there, but still waiting on side of the bigger, better experiences. The whole industry is having trouble right now, we can only sit and wait to see what happens.

Keith Andrew | 16:24 - 9 February 2013

But not interested enough to buy it, eh? You need a balance, of course, but the whole point of a portable system is that it's portable, and its current library is designed to be anything but.

Travis Pope | 16:05 - 9 February 2013

I find my experience to be the exact opposite. I've got no interest in a Vita because it's a Sony product at a time when Sony hasn't done anything particularly exciting with their entire Playstation ecosystem. In fact the only thing that makes me still consider the Vita is the fact that it's got more detailed "living room" titles and not stuffed to the gills with $2 fluff pieces.

Keith Andrew | 15:43 - 9 February 2013

There's no doubt an audience for PS Vita as it stands, just as there is 3DS. But I think the fundamental reason behind its - lets not beat around the bush - lacklustre sales - is the fact the vast majority of folks don't want big console games on a handheld.

How can PS Vita's soul be watered down ports of PS3 releases? That's not a soul. That's a slack marketing strategy.

Fair enough, you like the game you like, but you have to recognise both that you're in an increasingly shrinking bunch post smartphone, and why that is.

Mike Reynolds | 14:38 - 9 February 2013

I'm with Will and Vaedur.

I play my Vita religiously in short bursts when i have time at home, between classes, before bed, etc. I play FIFA, MLB: The Show, Gravity Rush, NFS: Most Wanted and they all are either on par or almost on par with their console counterparts. Hell, the minor differences are hardly noticeable or noteworthy.

My PS3 and Xbox have barely been touched in the months since i got my Vita, and i love the system for not going with the crappy mobile games angle. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having those games available, but if you remove the focus from AAA titles, you take away the soul of the system.

Vaedur | 17:57 - 8 February 2013

Ironically, my ps3 collects dust and my vita gets all my playtime. I can't get enough Persona 4. I beat little kings story and Gravity rush. I play Dynasty Warriors from time to time. Madden 13. I think it just fits my need of cosole gaming quality in short bursts. It's perfect for a gamer with young kids who don't have alot of time.

Keith Andrew | 17:41 - 8 February 2013

I genuinely think you're in the minority, Will - aside from the fact some of those games - Uncharted and AC III Liberation most of note - are pretty awful, cheap and nasty releases.

Why not just play console games on your console?

Will Machado | 17:20 - 8 February 2013

So you think Vita needs more mobile games to succeed, right? No, thanks. I bought my Vita to play things like Uncharted Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush, Unit 13, Soul Sacrifice, Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, Killzone, Tearaway... and God of War, inFamous, JRPGs... So thanks, Sony, for putting great home console games on Vita. If Vita turns itself into a deposit of casual mobile games I'll sell mine.

Vita (and its memory cards) only needs a price cut.

Keith Andrew | 15:13 - 8 February 2013

Mitch - Everyone I've shown my Vita to has been surprised how nice it is to hold and how smart it looks. That's sadly where the praise tends to end, though. :(

Mitch (Dave Mitchell) | 13:53 - 8 February 2013

You make some very strong points about what is wrong with the Vita.

The device itself is a really excellent piece of kit, and actually it's not that expensive if you ignore the ridiculous memory cards.

I played Uncharted and I must say it was rubbish. The touch screen and mix controls feel terribly tacked on. On the other hand, Gravity Rush is an amazing game which shows what the device can really do without gimmicks.

To me the PS Vita is a device that can provide more in-depth gaming experiences similar to Tablets, such as playing for a couple of hours on the couch. Where as typically mobile phone games are more quick pickup experiences over a longer period of time.

I personally think the PS Vita (and actually Tablets too) is lacking enough of those in-depth gaming experiences to back up the hardware that's been created. Many games created for tablets are the same.


Time will tell?

PS Vita Roundup | 11:37 - 8 February 2013

Pretty good arguments all round, but it needs something like a GTA V Stories or similar game to get it rocking in the west, we all know what will see millions of them in Japan...